'90% Gone': Trump's Stark Claim About Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei

US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran’s military strength has been severely diminished, claiming their navy, air force, air defense systems, and high-ranking leaders have been eliminated amid escalating hostilities.

US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been virtually wiped out and alleged that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was “90 per cent gone” as fighting between Washington and Tehran intensified.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump asserted that Iran had suffered devastating losses, saying its navy, air force, air defence systems and senior military leadership had been eliminated during the ongoing conflict.

“They have no navy. They have no air force. It’s all gone. Their anti-aircraft is gone. Their leaders have all been killed,” Trump said.

Trump claims Iran’s top leadership eliminated

Trump also claimed that Iran’s highest-ranking leaders had been killed during the conflict.

“Their best leaders have been killed. They’re gone. Khomeini is gone,” he said, apparently referring to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed during the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes in late February.

The US president then turned to Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, claiming that he was “90 per cent gone”, without elaborating on the remark.

Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly been recovering from injuries sustained in an airstrike and has remained largely out of public view in recent weeks, including during funeral ceremonies held for his father in Iran and Iraq.

Remarks come amid escalating US-Iran conflict

Trump’s comments came as the United States and Iran continued exchanging missile and drone strikes, further raising fears of a broader regional war.

The US president also announced that Washington was reinstating its blockade on Iran and insisted that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open regardless of Tehran’s position.

“We’re taking over the Strait. They have nothing… this should’ve been done 47 years ago,” Trump said, accusing Iran of repeatedly changing its negotiating position after marathon talks.

Trump added that the United States would seek reimbursement equivalent to 20 per cent of the value of cargo passing through the strategic waterway as compensation for providing maritime security.

His remarks come as military operations continue across the region, with tensions remaining high despite previous diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting.